Prairies Net-Zero Communities Accelerator
Working GroupFollow QUEST on
Launched in October, 2023, the Prairies Net-Zero Communities Accelerator (NCA) Program assists and enables communities in Western Canada to achieve their energy and emissions objectives.
The Working Group provides participating community employees a network of support to guide them in developing and implementing their Community Energy and Emissions Plans (CEEPs) / Climate Action Plans and initiatives, on their way to realizing the environmental, economic, and social benefits.
The Working Group also brings to the Prairies leaders from across Canada in the fields of energy, emissions, and resilience planning and implementation, to provide participants with the knowledge needed to develop evidence-based, integrated plans and drive project implementation.
Participants of the Working Group are leaders in moving toward achieving provincial GHG emissions reduction goals and transitioning toward Net-Zero Communities. Participation is exclusive to QUEST Canada Partners.
Working Group Participants
Town of Athabasca
Town of Gravelbourg
Municipal District of Pincher Creek
St. Theresa Point First Nation
Town of Biggar
City of Lethbridge
Town of Pincher Creek
Town of White City
Rural Municipality of De Salaberry
City of Medicine Hat
Sandy Bay First Nation
Town of Devon
Town of Okotoks
City of St. Albert
OBJECTIVES
Stay current on urban and rural energy-related matters pertaining to community energy planning, specifically in a municipal context.
Address issues brought up by the membership around community energy planning as they arise.
Convene stakeholders around priority issues and act as a central resource for information gathering and sharing.
Grow the Working Group to include all municipalities across Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta, that have an interest in community energy planning at the local level.
Provide a unified municipal voice for Net-Zero Communities across Western Canada.
Communities account for 58 per cent of energy use and 54 per cent of all greenhouse gas emissions on the Prairies. In order for Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, to meet their greenhouse gas and energy objectives, continued coordinated action at the municipal level is essential and will be directly advanced by the Prairies NCA Working Group.
DID YOU KNOW?
UPCOMING EVENTS
Upcoming Meetings and Newsletters
Visit our events calendar and sign up for our national and regional newsletters for all upcoming Working Group meeting dates.
To Join
To learn more about joining the Prairies Net-Zero Communities Accelerator Working Group, email us today!
Thank You to Our Funders
QUEST Canada’s Prairies Net-Zero Communities Accelerator Program is made possible thanks to the generous support of its funders, including Cenovus, the Government of Alberta, and Prairies Economic Development Canada.
District Energy Network
The goal of the QUEST DE Network is to advance Canada's DE industry: positioning DE for a changing Energy system and low carbon economy and facilitating project implementation.
The QUEST DE Network operates in part under a Memorandum of Understanding between QUEST and Natural Resources Canada. Participation is exclusive to QUEST Subscribers.
Low Carbon Energy Innovation Community of Practice
The Community of Practice (CoP) provides a space for practitioners to share tips and best practices, ask questions of their colleagues, and receive peer-to-peer support on matters relating to low-carbon energy innovation. As a member of the CoP, participants will be able to learn from and share best practices with colleagues across Canada. Participants will also have the opportunity to provide early feedback on the research and findings gathered via the Low Carbon Energy Innovation project.
Members of the CoP will be asked to commit 12-15 hours per year, including involvement in the bi-monthly meetings and by providing feedback.
Leaders Dialogue
The Smart Energy Leaders’ Dialogue (LD) is a forum for senior executives and decision-makers from the Canadian energy industry, government, and related sectors to formulate common understanding and develop critical insight on how we use, move and produce energy in communities across Canada with a focus on the development of Smart Energy Communities.
Distributed Energy Resources
Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) is a national working group with a regional focus on sources of energy that are connected at the community level to a distribution system. The working group has been established to engage and connect relevant industry stakeholders in discussions about how we influence positive change as our energy systems evolve.
New Brunswick & Prince Edward Island Municipal Group
Launched in 2016, the NB-PEI Municipal Working Group is a resource for municipalities engaged in community energy planning, partnership-building, and Smart Energy projects to share their experiences, lessons learned, and transfer knowledge about best practices. Participants are leaders in moving toward achieving provincial GHG emissions reduction goals and transitioning toward Smart Energy Communities.
Nova Scotia Buildings Group
The objective of the Buildings Working Group is to advance energy and environmental performance of buildings, while considering integration with other systems such as transportation, land use planning and renewable energy, to create Smart Energy Communities.
Nova Scotia Municipal Energy Learning
Launched in 2016, the Municipal Energy Learning Group (MELG) is a resource for municipalities engaged in community energy planning, partnership-building, and Smart Energy projects to share their experiences, lessons learned, and transfer knowledge about best practices.
Ontario Combined Heat and Power Consortium
The Ontario Combined Heat & Power (CHP) Consortium is the voice of CHP in Ontario. With a focus to encourage a broader debate and understanding of issues surrounding CHP, the Consortium is led by a diverse group of stakeholders from industry, LDC’s, gas utilities, the public/institutional sector, and technology & service providers. Participation is exclusive to QUEST Subscribers.
Ontario Community Energy Planning Implementation Network
By implementing a CEP and using energy more efficiently, a community can keep more money in the local economy, generate opportunities for local energy projects and jobs, and help manage risks from increasing energy prices and a changing climate. In Ontario, the number of communities implementing a CEP is growing each year.
Alberta Combined Heat and Power (CHP)
Working to advance combined heat and power (CHP) in Alberta, the Alberta CHP Working Group is a diverse collaborative of stakeholders from gas, electric and thermal utilities, technology and service providers, government, NGOs, and the MUSH sector.
Alberta Municipal Working Group
Information Coming Soon!
Stay Tuned!
Information is coming soon!